IL High School Insider Joe Lombardi, the author of the “Lax with Joe” blog at LaxLessons.com, focuses on the New York/New Jersey/Connecticut tristate region. Joe is also an analyst for the MSG Varsity television networkand is the primary author of the new edition of “Lacrosse for Dummies,” which was released in 2010. You can follow Joe Lombardi on Twitter @joe_lombardi. You can follow LaxLessons on Twitter @LaxLessons.

New York State Class B champion Garden City saw its first official commitments made by members of its Class of 2014 this week.

“I wanted to go to a school that had a strong academic and lacrosse program and a good location,” Dolan told LaxLessons.com.

For more on Dolan, including his player profile, and the list of other colleges he considered, check out the full LaxLessons.com story.

Byrnes is a versatile offensive player with a tremendous upside.

“I believe my strengths are my quickness, lax IQ and my field vision,” Byrnes told LaxLessons.com. “My ability to play with both hands allows me to feed and get shots off from either side of the cage.”

For more on Byrnes, including his player profile, and the list of other colleges he considered, check out the full LaxLessons.com story.

Virginia Lands Commit From Rising Sophomore

Lazare Zoungrana did not pick up a lacrosse stick until he was in the seventh grade.

“I would say the people that have had the biggest influence on me would be my friends,” Zoungrana told LaxLessons.com. “They forced me to pick up a stick in the spring of seventh grade and have always been there for me to help me out.

Now, just over three years later, the defenseman from the Brunswick School in Greenwich, Conn., by way of New Rochelle, N.Y., is one of just a handful of rising sophomores who have made college commitments from the tristate area.

Zoungrana has decided on Virginia.

For more on Zoungrana, including his player profile, and the list of other colleges he considered, check out the full LaxLessons.com story.

Walsh Changes Course to Maryland

Andrew Walsh was also set to spend a post-grad year in prep school while helping Bronxville (N.Y.) advance to the Class C state semifinals for the second straight year this past spring.

But the more and more Walsh dominated in the faceoff X, the more interest picked up.

So the midfielder has decided to go straight to the University of Maryland.

“I entered the sport late in eighth grade,” Walsh told LaxLessons.com. “I started taking faceoffs then but didn't get serious until 10th grade. Since 10th grade, once a week in the fall and spring, I would take 100 faceoffs against Peter Vhalakis, the MLL all-time faceoff win and percentage win record holder.”

For more on Walsh, including his player profile, and the list of other colleges he considered, check out the full LaxLessons.com story.

Chaminade Rising Juniors Make Their Choices

Two of the leading players on Chaminade High School (N.Y.), including one of the nation’s top-rated rising juniors, have given verbal commitments.

“I wanted to attend a school with a both a rich history of lacrosse and excellent academics,” Bonafede told LaxLessons.com.

For more on Bonafede, including his player profile, and the list of other colleges he considered, check out the full LaxLessons.com story.

Matt Wysota, an aggressive defenseman known for his all-out style of play, verballed to Villanova.

“The most important factor in my decision was going to a school that really wanted me and where I felt at home and that was Villanova,” Wysota told LaxLessons.com.

For more on Wysota, including his player profile, and the list of other colleges he considered, check out the full LaxLessons.com story.

Accardi to Air Force; Beil Bound for Mount

A strong connection to one of the “first families” of Rocky Point (N.Y.) High School lacrosse, the Palaseks, helped Nick Accardi develop into a D-I recruit. He’s committed to Air Force.

For more on Accardi, including his player profile, and the list of other colleges he considered, check out the full LaxLessons.com story.

Another Long Island rising senior, RJ Beil of St. Dominic High School, possesses a unique combination of skills. He’s an offensive weapon – and also a faceoff specialist.

It’s a winning formula and one that earned him interest from nearly a half dozen D-I programs. He has verballed to Mount St. Mary’s.

For more on Beil, including his player profile, and the list of other colleges he considered, check out the full LaxLessons.com story.

Greenwich Star Foote Verbals to Loyola

Rising junior midfielder Kyle Foote from Greenwich High School (Conn.) verbally committed to national champion Loyola.

The 6-foot-1, 160-pound Foote played this summer for Chelsea Piers Lax and went to Maverik Showtime National Recruiting Spotlight. He had 19 goals and five assists in 12 games for Greenwich in the spring, missing several games with a concussion.

“Kyle has one of the best split dodges I have seen,” Greenwich coach Scott Bulkley said. “His shot both right and left is awesome. Kyle works very hard off the field and it is always good to see a hard working kid get into a great school like Loyola.”

Check LaxLessons.com this week for Foote’s thoughts on his college choice.